Thanks for all your feedback since I joined this year guys, it really does make me work harder, as well as seeing all the amazing work you post up here. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone is going to make next year...

Merry Xmas to everyone who stops by here and especially 'the regulars' who comment on this thread (you know who you are). I'll be toasting you with a Singapore Sling later!

Hey all, here's an update.
I started making another comb after new year as someone wanted to buy one. I thought would try basswood as I read on here it's easy to carve and it's also easy to get in thin sheets...

Big mistake! I didn't like carving it at all, really hard to get detail and pretty fuzzy/splintery.

I was not happy with the result but I still had another piece so decided to have another go. I got a better result second time round by making sure my knife was really sharp and changing the way I carved it...

The original (mahogany) is on the left, then the first basswood in the middle and the second on the right. The designs on the middle one are pretty undefined. You can see here-

the second basswood version (the right) came out much better. I'm going to try and rescue the other one but next time it's back to hardwoods for me!

I really like your lil guys.
I always doubt my carves during the process too.
Aloha Station & I found that Salvation Army
has stacks of bed posts & legs they're almost
giving away. All shapes & sizes. Big ones too.